Building Europe's Parliament

Democratic Representation beyond the Nation State

Berthold Rittberger

Provides a key assessment of the theory and history of European integration

Timely publication, given the current debates created by the recent expansion of the EU

Explains how and why the European Parliament has become so powerful

Building Europe's Parliament

Democratic Representation beyond the Nation State

Berthold Rittberger

Description

Why have the national governments of EU member states successively endowed the European Parliament with supervisory, budgetary, and legislative powers? In this major contribution to the study of the European Parliament, Berthold Rittberger develops an original and compelling theory of delegation to representative institutions, and demonstrates just how and why the European Parliament has become so powerful.

Building Europe's Parliament

Democratic Representation beyond the Nation State

Berthold Rittberger

Table of Contents

Introduction: Building Europe's ParliamentPart I: Theory 1. The Empowerment of the European Parliament: Lessons from the New Institutionalism and Democratic Theory2. Parliamentary Institutions in International Polities: What are the Conditions?Part II: The European Parliament's Power Trias 3. The Origins of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community4. Budgetary Powers and the Treaty of Luxembourg5. Legislative Powers and the Single European Act6. From Maastricht to the Constitutional Treaty: The Return of National Parliaments?Conclusion: No Integration without Representation?Bibliography

Building Europe's Parliament

Democratic Representation beyond the Nation State

Berthold Rittberger

Reviews and Awards

"Building Europe's Parliament is an interesting study of the changes in the institutional framework of democracy that have been generated in the pursuit of a safer and more stable Europe. Rittberger is to be complimented for dealing directly and plainly with such questions in a more serious, more readable, and more optimistic format that most other writers on this theme."--The International History Review